Twin Cities Chef defends ‘Top Chef’ title

Adam White wins competition hosted by Wellness Kitchen

–Twin Cities Community Hospital Executive Chef Adam White successfully defended title of Top Chef at the Fifth Annual Top Chef Competition last weekend in front of a crowd of more than 100 attendees at the Estrella Warbird Museum in Paso Robles. The event served as a fundraiser for The Wellness Kitchen in Templeton. White is only the second two-time winner of the competition.

Chef White beat out stiff competition in Chef Gregg Wangard, formerly of Marisol at the Cliffs in Pismo Beach and currently Director of Food Services for the Paso Robles Joint Union School District and Chef Evan Vossler, Director of VIP Sales and Services and certified Sommelier at TH Estate Wines in Paso Robles. The chefs were provided with a closed bag of ingredients prior to each of the three phases of competition and were asked to prepare a heart-healthy appetizer, a main dish for longevity and a blood sugar balanced dessert. The judges, who included award winning Chef Jeffry Wiesinger of Jeffry’s Catering, Dr. Aiga Charles, an OB/GYN on staff at Twin Cities Community Hospital and, Chris Kern, a wine and culinary entrepreneur, scored each chef following every round.

“This is a great win for hospital chefs everywhere. For too many years we set an expectation of bland, poorly tasting hospital food and then we met people’s expectations,” said Ron Yukelson, Twin Cities’ Chief Business Development Officer. “This second consecutive triumph definitively validates how our industry has changed its focus to recognize the need to have outstanding culinary and nutrition standards for both patients and visitors.”

White has been the Executive Chef at Twin Cities Community Hospital for the past 3-1/2 years. He is employed by Morrison Healthcare who is contracted to provide the food and nutrition services at Twin Cities.

The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center, located across the street from Twin Cities Community Hospital, is a 501 (c) 3 organization formed for the benefit of others to provide the community with education, support and resources on the value of healing through nutrition. It is open for lunch and also provides nourishing meals and healing foods for individuals wanting to regain or sustain optimal health.